“Grinding Isn’t Just for the Gym—It’s Your Body in Survival Mode”
Ever wake up with a sore jaw and think, “Did I spend the night fighting crime in my sleep?”
If your teeth feel like they’ve been in a turf war, chances are you’re grinding or clenching at night. And while it’s easy to blame it on stress (hello, modern life), there’s usually more going on under the surface.
Your Body’s Not Just Stressed—It’s Struggling to Breathe
Bruxism—aka clenching and grinding—is often treated like a “bad habit” or stress response. But it’s actually a reflex. One that often kicks in when your airway’s under pressure.
During sleep, your muscles relax—including the ones that help keep your airway open. If your body senses that the airway might collapse (even partially), it jumps into action. Clenching the jaw can temporarily open the airway, helping you get more air.
It’s a survival response. Not a choice.
What That Means for You
- You’re not just “tense”—your body might be in protective mode
- Your sleep isn’t restorative—it’s disrupted, even if you don’t wake up
- That jaw tension, ear pain, or neck tightness? They’re all part of the picture
And over time, clenching can:
- Flatten your teeth
- Create chronic jaw dysfunction
- Shift your bite or facial structure
- Keep your nervous system on high alert
What’s Causing the Airway Disturbance?
A few common culprits:
- Low tongue posture
- Mouth breathing
- Narrow palate or recessed jaw
- Sleep-disordered breathing (even without full-blown apnea)
So No, You Don’t Just “Need to Relax”
You need to retrain your airway and give your nervous system a reason to stand down.
That looks like:
- Myofunctional therapy to get the tongue where it belongs
- Breathwork that recalibrates your baseline (especially at night)
- Nasal hygiene to make nose-breathing your default
- Functional assessments that go deeper than a night guard
Bottom Line
If you’re grinding your teeth, your body’s trying to keep you alive.
Let’s not punish it with a mouthguard and call it a day. Let’s fix what’s triggering the alarm.